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Evergreen CO Birding Hot Spot
by Nanette Spence, Jefferson County Wildlife Master & Audubon Life Member

Broad-tailed and Rufous Hummingbirds sharing a feeder. Photo: Nanette Spence

A diverse garden habitat created by Lynette Makowski, situated west of Evergreen at 8000 elevation, is rapidly becoming a local birding mecca. Over the past eight years, more than 120 bird species have visited this two-acre forest property, finding the habitat irresistible. Lynette (also co-author) has created a diverse landscape by maintaining much of the property in its natural state, by creating garden areas with both bird-attracting natives and ornamentals, and by providing numerous supplemental food and water stations.

Lynette proclaims herself to be a lifelong animal lover, stating that her commitment to wild birds really took hold eighteen years ago after the death of her beloved cockatiel. A simple tray feeder, the first of many feeders to follow, was an instant hit attracting huge numbers of mountain forest birds, especially the Cassin’s Finch. Her combined interest in attracting birds and in wildlife gardening has now evolved into a passion.

Lynette selects bird-friendly plants, especially buddleias, hyssops and particularly salvias which Broad-tailed, Rufous and Calliope hummingbirds favor. She has planted a variety of perennial salvias (May Night) and each spring orders a truckload of annual salvias (Lipstick and Black and Blue) which she places in planters throughout the garden and upon her decks. These plants provide the added benefits of attracting butterflies and bees, along with being both xeric and deer and elk resistant. Other frequent avian visitors include Clark’s Nutcrackers, Western Tanagers, Red-breasted, White-breasted and Pygmy Nuthatches, large flocks of Evening Grosbeaks and upwards of two hundred Band-tailed Pigeons, an uncommon visitor attracted to this habitat.

Thirty-five native bushes such as Serviceberry and Chokecherry enhance the outlining forest areas and provide additional forage and shelter for birds as well as for visiting black bear, red and gray fox, pine and fox squirrel, rabbit, mule deer and elk.

Lynette supplements the natural plantings with more than 30 feeders, an additional 16 hummingbird feeders and 15 water stations, many providing moving water and most heated during the winter. The feeders are mounted well out of reach of any bear that happens to wander through. Supplemental feeding includes sunflower seed, peanuts, Niger seed, mealworms and homemade suet. Lynette estimates that her bird feeding activities take approximately two hours each day, requiring her to “get up very early” before heading down the mountain to a full time job.

In recalling her best birding moment, Lynette states that she has wonderful birding moments each and every day. She delights in seeing uncommon species to her forest habitat such as Red–winged Blackbirds, which favor riparian settings, or Mountain Bluebirds, which prefer open meadows. She is particularly pleased to see coniferous forest species, which seemed to be on the decline, such as the Golden-crowned and Ruby-crowned Kinglets.

Lynette enthusiastically shares her habitat and each July she welcomes TENAS (The Evergreen Naturalist Audubon Society) to her home for a not-to-be-missed bird outing. This summer she also hosted the Evergreen Garden Club for an informative tour of her garden and the sharing of her knowledge of wildlife gardening.